Upright vacuum cleaner with unique airstream path

ABSTRACT

A vacuum cleaner includes a body having a nozzle assembly and a handle assembly. A suction generator and a dirt collection vessel are carried on the body. The vacuum cleaner also includes a cleaning wand, a supplemental cleaning tool connected to the first end of the cleaning wand and hose connected to a second end of the cleaning wand. Further the vacuum cleaner includes an airstream path passing serially through the nozzle assembly, the supplemental cleaning tool and the cleaning wand.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This document relates generally to the floor care equipment field and,more particularly, to an upright vacuum cleaner incorporating asupplemental cleaning tool and a unique airstream path passing throughthe supplemental cleaning tool even when the vacuum cleaner isconfigured for floor cleaning via the nozzle assembly.

BACKGROUND

It is known in the art to equip upright vacuum cleaners with a flexiblehose and a wand assembly. Typically such vacuum cleaners incorporatesupplemental cleaning tools. In operation, the operator releases thewand assembly from the housing of the upright vacuum cleaner, attachesthe supplemental cleaning tool to the wand assembly and then completesthe specialized cleaning application such as the above floor cleaning ofdraperies and upholstery or cleaning under furniture or in tightopenings where the necessary clearance for use of the standard nozzleassembly does not exist. After completing the specialty cleaningapplication, the operator disconnects the supplemental cleaning toolfrom the wand assembly and returns the wand assembly to its properposition in engagement with the upright vacuum cleaner housing tothereby again allow standard upright vacuum cleaner operation.

Significantly, it should be appreciated that prior art upright vacuumcleaners of this design require the handling of the supplementalcleaning tool when mounting it on and removing it from the wandassembly. Most operators would prefer to not have to handle thiscleaning tool as it is perceived as “dirty” whether or not it actuallyis. This document relates to an upright vacuum cleaner wherein thesupplemental cleaning tool is secured to the wand assembly when it isremoved from the upright vacuum cleaner for specialty cleaningapplications and when it is returned and remounted or secured to thehousing of the upright vacuum cleaner following the completion of thespecial cleaning application. This convenient and efficient approacheliminates any need for the operator to handle the dirty cleaning toolthereby increasing the satisfaction of the vacuum cleaner operator.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, anupright vacuum cleaner is provided comprising (a) a body including anozzle assembly and a handle assembly, (b) a suction generator carriedon the body and (c) a dirt collection vessel carried on the body. Theupright vacuum cleaner further includes a cleaning wand, a supplementalcleaning tool connected to a first end of the cleaning wand and a hoseconnected to a second end of the cleaning wand. Further the uprightvacuum cleaner includes an airstream path passing serially through thenozzle assembly, the supplemental cleaning tool and the cleaning wand.

In one possible embodiment the airstream path passes serially throughthe nozzle assembly, the supplemental cleaning tool, the cleaning wand,the hose, the dirt collection vessel and the suction generator. Furthera final filter may be provided in the airstream path downstream from thesuction generator.

In one possible embodiment, the nozzle assembly includes a suction inletfor feeding air to the supplemental cleaning tool. In one possibleembodiment, the nozzle assembly includes an agitator cavity in fluidcommunication with the suction inlet. Further, a rotary agitator isprovided in the agitator cavity.

In one possible embodiment the dirt collection vessel is a dirt cup witha cylindrical sidewall, a tangentially directed inlet and an axiallydirected outlet so as to provide cyclonic air flow for enhanced cleaningefficiency.

In one possible embodiment, the handle assembly includes (a) thecleaning wand, (b) a canister housing holding the suction generator andthe dirt collection vessel and (c) a support housing connected to thenozzle assembly by means of a swivel. Further the embodiment includes afirst actuator for releasing the canister housing from the supporthousing. In addition, the vacuum cleaner includes a second actuator forreleasing the wand assembly and the supplemental cleaning tool from thecanister housing for special cleaning application. In accordance withyet another aspect, the upright vacuum cleaner comprises a nozzleassembly having a first dirty air inlet, a supplemental cleaning toolhaving a second dirty air inlet, a dirt collection vessel for separatingand collecting dirt in the airstream being drawn through the vacuumcleaner and a suction generator for drawing dirty air serially throughthe nozzle assembly and the supplemental cleaning tool in a firstoperation mode. Further the vacuum cleaner includes a second operationmode wherein the airstream is drawn directly into the supplementalcleaning tool, bypassing that nozzle assembly.

In accordance with yet another aspect, a method is provided forconverting an upright vacuum cleaner between a first mode of operationand a second mode of operation. That method comprises a step of thedrawing dirt and debris serially through the nozzle assembly, thesupplemental cleaning tool and the cleaning wand of the upright vacuumcleaner in the first mode of operation. Further that method comprisesdrawing dirt and debris serially through the supplemental cleaning tooland the cleaning wand while bypassing the nozzle assembly in the secondmode of operation. This is accomplished by switching between the firstand second modes of operation without touching the supplemental cleaningtool.

That method further includes maintaining the supplemental cleaning toolon an end of the cleaning wand in both the first and second modes ofoperation. Further the method includes engaging an actuator on theupright vacuum cleaner to release the supplemental cleaning tool and thecleaning wand together for specialty cleaning applications in the secondmode of operation.

In the following description, there are shown and described severalpreferred embodiments of the upright vacuum cleaner. As it should berealized, the upright vacuum cleaner is capable of other, differentembodiments and its several details are capable of modification invarious, obvious aspects all without departing from the upright vacuumcleaner as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly,the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative innature and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a partof the specification, illustrate several aspects of the upright vacuumcleaner and together with the description serve to explain certainprinciples thereof. In the drawing figures:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the upright vacuum cleaner.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the airstream path through thevacuum cleaner when configured in a first mode of operation.

FIGS. 3-6 are various views illustrating the airstream path through thevacuum cleaner when configured for the first mode of operation.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the upright vacuum cleanerconfigured for a second mode of operation with the cleaning wand andsupplemental cleaning tool released for specialty cleaning applications.

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram further illustrating the airstreampath through the vacuum cleaner when configured for the second mode ofoperation.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferredembodiments of the upright vacuum cleaner, examples of which areillustrated in the accompanying drawing figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1-6 illustrating the upright vacuumcleaner 10 when configured for a first mode of operation. Asillustrated, the upright vacuum cleaner 10 includes a body having anozzle assembly 12 and a handle assembly 14. A suction generator 16 anda dirt collection vessel 18 are carried on the body. That dirtcollection vessel 18 may comprise a vacuum cleaner filter bag, a simpledirt cup or a cyclonic dirt cup as illustrated incorporating acylindrical sidewall 20, a tangentially directed inlet 22 and an axiallydirected outlet 24.

In the first mode of operation, the upright vacuum cleaner 10 has anairstream path that is illustrated in FIG. 2 by action arrows A-I. Morespecifically, the suction generator 16 draws an airstream into theagitator cavity 26 of the nozzle assembly 12 (see action arrow A). Arotary agitator 28 in the agitator cavity 26 includes tufts or bristlesthat brush dirt and debris from an underlying carpet into the airstream.That dirt and debris is then entrained in the airstream which is thendrawn from the agitator cavity 26 through the suction inlet 30 and asupplemental cleaning tool 32 carried on an end of the cleaning wand 34(see action arrows B-D and note FIGS. 3-4). The airstream travels up thecleaning wand 34 and then passes through the flexible hose 36 beforebeing delivered through the tangentially directed inlet 22 into the dirtcollection vessel 18 (note action arrows E and F in FIG. 2 and noteFIGS. 3 and 5). Dirt and debris are removed from the airstream andcaptured in the dirt collection vessel 18. The relatively cleanairstream then travels through apertures 38 in the shroud 40 beforepassing through the axially directed outlet 24, the manifold 42 and theconduit 44 into the suction generator compartment 46. The airstream thenpasses over/through the motor of the suction generator 16 to providecooling before being directed through the final filter 48 and then beingexhausted into the environment (note action arrows G-I in FIG. 2 andnote FIG. 6). Significantly, it should be appreciated that the airstreampath passes serially through the nozzle assembly 12, the supplementalcleaning tool 30 and the cleaning wand 32 when configured for the firstmode of operation which equates to normal upright vacuum cleaneroperation.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrating the upright vacuumcleaner when configured for a second mode of operation. In the secondmode of operation, the cleaning wand 34 and attached supplementalcleaning tool 32 are released from the canister housing 50 of the handleassembly for specialty cleaning applications. Such applications include,but are not necessarily limited to the above floor cleaning ofupholstery, draperies, window sills and the tops of baseboards as wellas cleaning under furniture and in tight areas where available clearanceprevents using the vacuum cleaner to clean with the nozzle assembly 12.In order to release the cleaning wand 34 and supplemental cleaning tool32 and configure the vacuum cleaner for the second mode of operation,the operator engages an actuator 52 on the upright vacuum cleaner. Inthe illustrated embodiment the actuator 52 comprises a sliding lever(see FIG. 4).

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, in the first mode of operation dirt anddebris is drawn serially through the nozzle assembly 12, thesupplemental tool 32 and the cleaning wand 34. In the second mode ofoperation illustrated in FIG. 8, dirt and debris is serially drawnthrough the supplemental cleaning tool 32 and the cleaning wand 34 whilebypassing the nozzle assembly 12. Significantly, switching between thefirst and second modes of operation may be completed without touchingthe supplemental cleaning tool 32. As the cleaning tool 32 is oftendirty, eliminating the need to handle the supplemental cleaning tool 32when converting between operating modes is a significant benefit thatgreatly increases customer satisfaction with the vacuum cleaner 10. Thisis only possible by maintaining the supplemental cleaning tool 32 on theend of the cleaning wand 34 in both the first and second modes ofoperation.

The foregoing has been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theembodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications andvariations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example,the illustrated embodiment is an upright vacuum cleaner. The vacuum asclaimed also includes canister vacuum cleaners wherein the nozzleassembly is not connected to the canister assembly by either a pivot ora swivel. All such modifications and variations are within the scope ofthe appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth towhich they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.

What is claimed:
 1. A vacuum cleaner, comprising: a body including a nozzle assembly and a handle assembly; a suction generator carried on said body; a dirt collection vessel carried on said body; a cleaning wand; a supplemental cleaning tool connected to a first end of said cleaning wand; a hose connected to a second end of said cleaning wand; and an airstream path passing serially through said nozzle assembly, said supplemental cleaning tool and said cleaning wand.
 2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said airstream path passes serially through said nozzle assembly, said supplemental cleaning tool, said cleaning wand, said hose, said dirt collection vessel and said suction generator.
 3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2, further including a final filter in said airstream path downstream from said suction generator.
 4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein said nozzle assembly includes a suction inlet for feeding air to said supplemental cleaning tool.
 5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 4, wherein said nozzle assembly includes an agitator cavity in fluid communication with said suction inlet.
 6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 5, further including a rotary agitator in said agitator cavity.
 7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein said dirt collection vessel is a dirt cup with a cylindrical sidewall, a tangentially directed inlet and an axially directed outlet.
 8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 7, wherein said final filter is carried on said body between said suction generator and said dirt collection vessel.
 9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein said handle assembly includes (a) said cleaning wand, (b) a canister housing holding said suction generator and said dirt collection vessel and (c) a support housing connected to said nozzle assembly by means of a swivel.
 10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 9, further including a first actuator for releasing said canister housing from said support housing.
 11. The vacuum cleaner of claim 10, further including a second actuator for releasing said wand assembly and said supplemental cleaning tool from said canister assembly for special cleaning applications.
 12. An upright vacuum cleaner, comprising: a nozzle assembly having a first dirty air inlet; a supplemental cleaning tool having a second dirty air inlet; a dirt collection vessel for separating and collecting dirt in said airstream being drawn through said vacuum cleaner; and a suction generator for drawing dirty air serially through said nozzle assembly and said supplemental cleaning tool in a first operation mode.
 13. The vacuum cleaner of claim 12, including a second operation mode wherein said airstream is drawn directly into said supplemental cleaning tool, bypassing said nozzle assembly.
 14. The vacuum cleaner of claim 12, wherein said suction generator is downstream from said dirt collection vessel.
 15. A method of converting an upright vacuum cleaner between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation wherein said upright vacuum cleaner includes a nozzle assembly, a supplemental cleaning tool and a wand assembly, said method comprising: drawing dirt and debris serially through said nozzle assembly, said supplemental cleaning tool and said cleaning wand in said first mode of operation; drawing dirt and debris serially through said supplemental cleaning tool and said cleaning wand while bypassing said nozzle assembly in said second mode of operation; and switching between said first and second modes of operation without touching said supplemental cleaning tool.
 16. The method of claim 15, including maintaining said supplemental cleaning tool on an end of said cleaning wand in both of said first and second modes of operation.
 17. The method of claim 16, including engaging an actuator on said upright vacuum cleaner to release said supplemental cleaning tool and said cleaning wand together for specialty cleaning applications in said second mode of operation. 